TOUCH FOOTBALL
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YOU’VE got to be in it to win it, and five of the City of Orange Touch Association’s best are vying to take home a National Touch League title.
Joel Begnell, Mandy Moore, Ryan Moore, Cody Robbins and Mitch Leonard have earned selection in the Hunter-Western Hornets train-on squads ahead of March’s NTL next year.
It’s a huge stepping stone to higher honours for all five.
Robbins, Ryan Moore and Leonard have earned the call for the men’s T-League side - which incorporates players from both the men’s under 20s and open divisions - while Mandy Moore is in the women’s over-40 squad and Begnell is the player-coach for the men’s over-30 outfit.
Begnell says the chance to ply his trade at a higher level was hugely enticing, and encouraged anyone looking at representative touch to give it a shot.
“There’s talent out here,” Begnell said.
“But we want to transfer that into players who want to play at rep tournaments. It’s a bit of a goal of the association at the moment, and it’s great to have those five people involved.
“It shows if you are willing to step up and play rep tournaments that the association can give them a push to get into regional teams.”
Each train-on squad will gather at Newcastle on Sunday, November 29 before final sides are selected from the trial.
If successful, the five COTA guns will then continue to train with the Hornets in the lead-up to the NTL takes place up at Coffs Harbour from March 9, 2016.
NTL is the premier touch competition in Australia with regional teams from NSW and Queensland competing alongside teams from other affiliated states as well.
“There’s players in there that have played state and Australian level touch before," Begnell said.
“It’s the pinnacle regional level players can achieve.”
Begnell said coaching was a goal of his, but said mentoring the men’s over-30 side was something he was never seriously considered until last month.
“I’d originally put my name down to play and be selected in the men’s 30s but was then approached to coach,” the level two accredited coach said.
“I decided to put my hand up and try something different.
“There’s a few guys from Dubbo but the rest are from Newcastle and Central Coast centres. They didn’t send a side to the National Touch League last year, so we’re just looking to get the side up and running and give things a shake.”
